Bound not by time, nor in need of approval. Given freely of the heart and full of promise. This is my love for you.
Chapter 1
The library was silent except for the occasional scratch of a quill against parchment. In a dark corner sat a young girl. Her Head Girl's badge glinted in what little light escaped to the rows of books in the Restricted Section. Her brow was furrowed in concentration. She'd been working on this research for months now. If only she could get this one symbol right....Bloody Hell! She'd done it. She'd figured out the countercurse to Aveda Kadavra. But how to test it to make sure this was right? Hermione Granger shook her head, her now tamed brown hair falling in cascades down her slim shoulders. Her normally cinnamon brown eyes had darkened in concentration. There was no real time to test it other than when someone used the Killing Curse and to do that would require someone with the knowledge of dark magic who wished to use said magic to kill someone. Someone named Harry Potter. Again Hermione shook her head.
"Don't be daft Hermione. It would be incredibly stupid of you to try to use an untested spell during a battle between Voldemort and Harry."
She muttered darkly to herself, looking around to make sure no one else could hear her. Another part of her brain took up the argument.
"But it would be the perfect time to use it. The only time really."
Her more cautious side snorted.
'And if you get the both of you killed?"
Recklessness, a feeling she was prone to since her befriending of Harry Potter and their other best friend Ron Weasley, wriggled around inside her head.
"If he does fight Voldemort, odds are still good you're going to die. Why not at least stand up and fight?"
She couldn't believe the mutiny of her thoughts. She offered up one last argument against this.
"Harry's a great wizard. He's defeated Voldemort numerous times. If I were to interfere it could be disastrous. Harry would be spending all his time worrying over me and not concentrating on the battle."
She was hoping her smug, know-it-all attitude would quiet the Devil-may-care voice in her mind. It didn't.
"Harry needs you."
And that was the end of that argument. There was nothing she could say that could refute that statement. Harry did need her. As she needed him, perhaps not in the same way that she needed him, but the need was there nonetheless. Hermione replaced the book she was looking through and gathered her things off the floor. Putting them in her bag she was on the alert for any sound that might indicate Filtch's presence nearby. Hearing none, she put her bag over her shoulder and wrapped Harry's invisibility cloak about her. She made her way quietly to the door and whispering a simple Alohamora spell on the door, she unlocked it and stepped into the hallway. Relocking the door she made her way back to Gryffindor tower. After a few close calls with Filtch and his cat Mrs. Norris, Hermione made it back to the tower. She stood in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady and lowered the cloak from her head. She nudged the sleeping portrait gently, trying to get her attention. The Fat Lady awoke with a snort.
"Password. And aren't you out a little late Ms. Granger?"
Hermione looked at the portrait with a blank expression, giving all impressions of not understanding a word of English. The Fat Lady sighed and waited for the password.
"Wronski Feint."
Damn Ron for insisting they make that the password for the tower. It took her two tries to stop saying "Wonky Feint" and that was two times too many for Hermione. The portrait swung open allowing Hermione to enter. Walking through she peered around; the Common Room was empty. She tiptoed silently to the bookcase that hid the entrance to the Head Boy and Girl's dormitory. Standing in front of it she prepared to say the password when a voice behind her startled her.
"Out a bit late aren't you Hermione?"
She jumped about a foot in the air and spun around to confront the intruder. It was Harry. She hadn't seen him sitting in the chair next to the fireplace. She stuttered searching her mind for a plausible excuse.
"I was studying."
Harry got up and walked towards her. She could see the disbelief in his eyes. Standing in front of her he stopped and waited a moment before speaking.
"Why lie to me Hermione?"
Hermione stiffened her back in indignation she hardly felt.
"How could you ask me that? You think I would lie to you?"
Harry took a step closer and Hermione stepped back. This continued until Hermione was backed completely against the bookcase. She could feel the heat radiating off of Harry, could see the slight glimmer of his Head Boy badge could sense his eyes searching hers for the truth she was withholding from him. All the truths. She turned her eyes from him and he raised his hand, gently turning her face back to him.
"Mione, tell me. Are you all right?"
She started for the second time that night. He was worried she was in trouble? That was a switch. Then again, after what happened in third year his worries weren't exactly unfounded. She looked up into his sparkling green eyes, it was quite a view too as he towered over her diminutive frame.
"Harry, I'm fine. I was just doing some research. Charms and spells that might be useful if -"
She left the rest unspoken as Harry wrapped his arms around her and rested his head against hers. His eyes were closed and he exhaled heavily.
"If Voldemort attacks? Oh Hermione, I wish you wouldn't worry about this. It's my fight. I have to do this alone."
Hermione pushed Harry away angrily. He stumbled and looked down into her blazing eyes.
"Your fight? How is this just your fight Harry?"
Harry tried to mollify her but she was having none of it.
"Mione, it's me he wants. It's me he's been after all this time. I mean Cedric-"
She cut him off with a sharp gesture.
"Was an unfortunate fatality Harry, but it was not your fault. It wasn't because of you. Not everything is because of you. And if you can't realize the many reasons why this fight is everyone's, well then, then you really are the arrogant prat I expected you to be when I read about you."
Harry felt his heart lurch. For Hermione to feel that way about him, that hurt so much he couldn't describe it. Then it struck him. Why she was so intent upon seeing the end of Voldemort, there was the reason that she was his best friend and hated to see him hurt, but there was also-
"Hermione, I'm sorry. I don't know how I could forget what happened to your parents."
The Grangers had all been attacked, along with several other Muggle families, in Diagon Alley at the beginning of this year. Hermione's parents had been among the dead; Hermione herself had been badly wounded. Harry still worried about her as she had yet to show signs of mourning. She'd simply buried herself deeper in her school work, Head Girl duties and her search for a way to defeat the Dark Lord. He looked down at her now, his eyes brimming with sadness. Again she looked away from him, he knew better than to press this anymore.
"Come on, it's late and we have that test in Transfiguration tomorrow."
He took her hand and muttered the password to their dormitory.
"Snuffles."
Harry smirked at that. Hermione had come up with it and he was only too happy to agree. As the bookcase rose they walked hand in hand through the opening. Once they reached Hermione's room Harry turned to her and placing a hand against her cheek leaned in and gave her a kiss on the forehead. His eyes met hers in the semi darkness and he smiled slightly. How his heart ached for her, but it was nothing he could do anything about. He was stuck right now, trying to keep her safe and also, not sure what her feelings for him really were. He let go of her hand and watched as she walked into her room. She turned and looked at him, a small smile playing at the edges of her lips.
"Harry? Come here a moment will you?"
He walked over to her immediately on the alert for something wrong. He looked at her trying to gauge her emotions.
"Hermione? Are you sure you're all right?"
She nodded and he began to speak again but her fingers on his lips silenced him. He was startled and even more so as she leaned up and pressed her lips to his parted ones. Hermione's lips were soft, yet firm and warm. She tasted sweet to him. Like a wine this kiss had a heady feeling to it. Her bottom lip moved between his and he sucked gently causing a moan to escape her throat. His hands, previously at his sides came up and buried themselves in her hair. He pulled her closer to him and tentatively explored her mouth with his tongue. Her tongue slid against his as she moved to explore the depths of his mouth. Hermione's hands were unable to stay still as she caressed his neck, his chest down his back and over his butt, squeezing slightly and causing him to arch against her. She immediately felt his arousal pressed against her lower body and moaned softly. Harry backed Hermione up against the doorframe of her room and moved his own hands from her hair to the front of her robes. As he got them undone they stumbled back into her room. Walking backwards, Hermione led Harry to her bed. She sat down on it then laid back and brought him on top of her. Harry pulled away a moment and picked Hermione's legs up and placed them more on to the bed and then crawled on top of her. He looked down at her, her lips swollen with kisses, her breathing ragged and her eyes wide and shining with desire.
"I want this Harry."
And he proceeded to give her what she wanted.
TBC....